2007-08: Manchester United vs Chelsea
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Very few games can match up to the mad fervour that surrounds two English sides meeting in the UEFA Champions League final and so it was the same with the 2007-08 finals as 67,000 people gathered at the Luzhniki Stadium in Russia and 17.5 million viewers across the world tuned in to see Manchester United and Chelsea battle it out for the greatest prize in Europe that fateful evening.
Manchester United had already wrapped up the league title much to the disgruntlement of Chelsea’s charges who were having a rough season of their own. Jose Mourinho, the man who was leading the Chelsea brigade at the season start had made way for Avram Grant, who in spite of a stop-start season in the Premier League had brought out the best in the Londoners in Europe.
The London-based side looked to be heading for a maiden European Cup and had high hopes of the game which began disastrously as Cristiano Ronaldo fired Sir Alex Ferguson’s charges into the lead with a header in the first half. Shortly after, Frank Lampard came to his side’s rescue as he leveled before half time.
The second half and even much of extra time seemed to go on without much incident as both sides seemed to be at their best before Didier Drogba was sent off for slapping Nemanja Vidic four minutes from full time.
There was, even more, drama to come in the shootout as Cristiano Ronaldo missed his spot kick to allow John Terry a chance to seal the cup for Chelsea. John Terry, however, inexplicably slipped and missed his shot completely taking the game into sudden death.
Anderson, Salomon Kalou and Ryan Giggs got their spot kicks right but Edwin van der Sar saved from Nicolas Anelka to crown Manchester United winners of the UEFA Champions League and himself the Man of the Match.
